The 5 Most Genius IKEA Hacks We Saw in 2025 (They’re So Inspiring!)
Creating character and improving function in an existing home is no easy feat — and it can definitely be hard on a budget. So it’s no wonder that renters and homeowners alike turn to IKEA when they have big plans but modest funds, as the retailer has long proven its versatility in achieving whatever shoppers have in mind.
In the last year we’ve featured tons of delightful IKEA transformations, whether readers simply followed instructions or used these flat-pack heroes as building blocks for custom results. Our five favorite IKEA hacks are listed below, and feature ideas that can turn your home into cozy and streamlined retreats.
A compact shelving unit creates easy division in a narrow floor plan.
When interior designer Khadija Drebi moved into a townhouse originally built in the 1960s, the shared living and dining areas felt dated and needed better separation. But the floor plan was narrow, and “floating” furniture didn’t seem like the right choice. The solution? IKEA’s ELVARLI shelving, which fits perfectly between the sofa and dining set with space for a projector to spare.
Built-in bookcases make an office feel welcoming, not dated.
Katie and Phllip Bowling’s home office had the type of 1970s wood paneling that looked cave-like, not Mad Men-esque. They used the BILLY bookcases already holding their favorite titles to create a built-in on the back wall, complete with closed storage and a window seat. The results look modern yet timeless, and add to the refreshed brightness of the room.
Seven BILLY bookcases create a cozy storage nook for a voracious reader.
Kelsey Mansingh (@newbuild_newlyweds) had a lot of books but little storage, so she enlisted her husband Ryan to help create a library worthy of her Beauty and the Beast dreams. Thanks to seven BILLY bookcases and plenty of decorative trim, they outfitted the nook with enough shelving for her collection and a cozy seat where she can read to her heart’s content.
Two PAX wardrobes add much-needed storage in a daughter’s bedroom.
Sophia Nickolaides sought to give her daughter’s room more storage, and so she installed two IKEA PAX wardrobes on either side of a window to create a built-in look. She finished the tops of the wardrobes with crown molding, the sides with strips of MDF, and the fronts with custom doors. A sweet shade of pink paint and a bespoke seat-plus-desk in the middle tie everything together, and these wardrobes are showstoppers.
A 1940s rowhouse gets more storage and charm with a new bookcase.
When Courtney Balestier bought her 1940s rowhouse, she loved the original fireplace and wanted to add more storage beside it with help from a BILLY bookcase. She made it appear built-in by adding trim and a white MDF top, and then painted everything in the same creamy shade of white. The bookshelf looks like it was always there, thanks to her clever work.